PYRANTEL (Oral)
Some commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S.?
- Pin-X
- Reese's Pinworm Caplets
- Reese's Pinworm Medicine
In Canada?
Generic name product may be available in the U.S.
Category
Description
Pyrantel (pi-RAN-tel) belongs to the family ofmedicines called anthelmintics (ant-hel-MIN-tiks). Anthelmintics are used in the treatmentof worm infections.
Pyrantel is used to treat pinworms (enterobiasis; oxyuriasis).
This medicine may also be used for other worm infections as determinedby your doctor.
Pyrantel works by paralyzing the worms. They are then passed in the stool.
Pyrantel is available in the following dosage forms:
Oral- Oral suspension (U.S. and Canada)
- Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine,the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it willdo. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For pyrantel, the followingshould be considered:
Allergies?Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual orallergic reaction to pyrantel. Also tell your health care professional ifyou are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, ordyes.
Pregnancy?Pyrantel should not be taken during pregnancy unlessrecommended by your doctor. Studies have not been done in pregnant women.However, pyrantel has not been reported to cause birth defects or other problemsin animal studies.
Breast-feeding?Only small amounts of pyrantel are absorbed intothe body. Pyrantel has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies.However, pyrantel is not recommended during breast-feeding.
Children?This medicine has been tested in a limited numberof children 2 years of age or older and, in effective doses, has not beenreported to cause different side effects or problems in children than it doesin adults.
Older adults?Many medicines have not been studied specificallyin older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactlythe same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effectsor problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing useof pyrantel in the elderly with use in other age groups.
Other medicines?Although certain medicines should not be usedtogether at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used togethereven if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want tochange the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are takingpyrantel, it is especially important that your health care professional knowif you are taking any of the following:
- Piperazine (e.g., Entacyl)?Using pyrantel and piperazine togethermay decrease the effectiveness of pyrantel
Other medical problems?The presence of other medicalproblems may affect the use of pyrantel. Make sure you tell your doctor ifyou have any other medical problems, especially:
Proper Use of This Medicine
No specialpreparations (for example, special diets, fasting, other medicines, laxatives,or enemas) are necessary before, during, or immediately after you take pyrantel.
For patients taking pyrantel oral suspension:
- Use a specially marked measuring spoon or other device to measureeach dose accurately. The average household teaspoon may not hold the rightamount of liquid.
- Shake the bottle well before using.
To help clear up your infection completely, take thismedicine exactly as directed by your doctor. In some infections a seconddose of this medicine may be required to clear up the infection completely.
For patients taking pyrantel for pinworms:
- Pinworms may be easily passed from one person to another, especiallyamong persons in the same household. Therefore, all household members mayhave to be treated at the same time to prevent their infection or reinfection.Also, all household members may have to be treated again in 2 to 3 weeks toclear up the infection completely.
Dosing?The dose of pyrantel will be different fordifferent patients. Follow your doctor's orders or thedirections on the label. The following information includes only theaverage doses of pyrantel. If your dose is different,do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The number of tablets or teaspoonfuls of suspension that you take dependson the strength of the medicine. Also, the number ofdoses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length oftime you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you aretaking pyrantel.
- For oral dosage forms (oral suspensionor tablets):
- Adults and children 2 years of age and older: Dose is based on bodyweight and will be determined by your doctor. It is taken as a single doseand may need to be repeated in two to three weeks.
Storage?To store this medicine:
- Keep out of the reach of children.
- Store away from heat and direct light.
- Keep the liquid form of this medicine from freezing.
- Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be surethat any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
Precautions While Using This Medicine
If yoursymptoms do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, checkwith your doctor.
This medicine may cause some people to become dizzy, drowsy, or less alertthan they are normally. Make sure you know how you reactto this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else thatcould be dangerous if you are dizzy or are not alert. If these reactionsare especially bothersome, check with your doctor.
For patients taking pyrantel for pinworms:
- In some patients, pinworms may return after treatment with pyrantel.The following may help to prevent this:
- Avoiding scratching the area around the buttocks.
- Washing hands and fingernails with soap often during the day, especiallybefore eating and after using the toilet.
- Wearing tight underpants both day and night. Changing them daily.
- Cleaning the bedroom floor by vacuuming or damp mopping for severaldays after treatment. Avoiding dry sweeping that may stir up dust.
- Keeping the toilet seat clean.
- Washing (not shaking) all bedding and nightclothes (pajamas) aftertreatment.
- Some doctors may also recommend other measures to help keep yourinfection from returning. If you have any questions about this, check withyour doctor.
Side Effects of This Medicine
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects.Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they mayneed medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible ifany of the following side effects occur:
Other side effects may occur that usually do not need medicalattention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjuststo the medicine. However, check with your doctor if any of the following sideeffects continue or are bothersome:
Other side effects not listed above may also occur insome patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
Additional Information
Once a medicine has been approvedfor marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also usefulfor other medical problems. Although this use is not included in product labeling,pyrantel is used in certain patients with the following medical condition:
- Common roundworm infection
- Hookworm infection
- More than one worm infection at a time
For patients taking this medicine for hookworm infection:
- Anemia (iron-poor blood) may occur in patients with hookworm infections.Therefore, your doctor may want you to take iron supplements to help clearup the anemia. If so, it is important to take iron every day while you arebeing treated for hookworms. Do not miss any doses. Your doctor may also wantyou to keep taking iron supplements for up to 6 months after you stop takingpyrantel. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.
Other than the above information, there is no additional information relatingto proper use, precautions, or side effects for this use.
Revised: 3/16/2000
